Thinking of my first build... Advice?

Right now I've got a bike which falls very comfortably under "beater" I guess. While I love it, I would like a more aesthetically pleasing bike so I thought about building one.

First things first: frame. Is it worth buying a completely new frame, or second hand?

I probably wont start building until October when I've got some more room but I figured being prepared is probably best.

Any tips/advice are more than welcome.

Edit: I don't even know where to buy fixed gear frames from either.

• vintage
  
• modern
  
• practical
  
• fast
  
• aluminium
  
• steel
  
• carbon
  
• price range
  
• size
  etc. etc.
  
  

find out what your demands are first..then we can probably help you

Noted.

Fast, aluminium, up to £200 for the frame itself. Not necessarily interested in a vintage bike. The frame is probably the only thing I'd buy second hand. Everything else new.

Cannondales are you friend if you want gears.
If you are looking for fixed gear (I presume) then have a look at meilec bikes, they are awesome and very cheap for a bespoke Alu frame. With forks may cost a little more than £200 but its a worthy compromise.
http://www.bikemielec.com/en/ostre_kolo_szosa.php
Or something like a Dolan pre cursa/ track champ if you don't care about snobbery.

Cannondales are you friend if you want gears.
If you are looking for fixed gear (I presume) then have a look at meilec bikes, they are awesome and very cheap for a bespoke Alu frame. With forks may cost a little more than £200 but its a worthy compromise.
http://www.bikemielec.com/en/ostre_kolo_szosa.php
Or something like a Dolan pre cursa/ track champ if you don't care about snobbery.

Thanks, Loctez. Will be building a fixed gear, yeah. Circa £200+ with forks is very reasonable.

Apologies for the vague OP, but I'm still new at this haha.

specialized langsters although common and much maligned they are good strong and light and cheap, worth a look for a second hand one
would be a good base for a fixed gear machine

Just had a look at the langsters. The frame sets are a little out of my price range unfortunately. While they probably offer more by way of spec, I've just come across the Dolan FXE Matt frameset (thanks to Loctez' Dolan suggestion). Looks affordable and isn't plastered with logos which I like.

Only problem I can see with it is that it doesn't have an eyelet for a front break.

Is that an easy fix/something I could do myself or would it be worth seeking out a different frame?

2nd hand they'll be cheap

Just made a list of all the components I'd like. More expensive than I thought it'd be. Gulp.

Only problem I can see with it is that it doesn't have an eyelet for a front break.

Is that an easy fix/something I could do myself or would it be worth seeking out a different frame?

i believe it does, and i think it's the perfect set if you're after a commuter that can handle some speed once i a while..
since it's in your price range (remember it comes with headset, seatpost and clamp) i would just buy a new set

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/Track%20FrameSets/Aluminium%20Track%20FrameSets/FXE?product_id=605

i believe it does, and i think it's the perfect set if you're after a commuter that can handle some speed once i a while..
since it's in your price range (remember it comes with headset, seatpost and clamp) i would just buy a new set

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/Track%20FrameSets/Aluminium%20Track%20FrameSets/FXE?product_id=605

My mistake. That's saved me £100 haha. Good eyes, Nicolai.

Noted.

The frame is probably the only thing I'd buy second hand. Everything else new.

I wouldn't buy everything else new, you can get some bargains on here for seatposts, stems, bars, saddles, brakes etc.

I wouldn't buy everything else new, you can get some bargains on here for seatposts, stems, bars, saddles, brakes etc.

You're absolutely right. I just love internet shopping and getting things in the post a bit too much.